Greyjoy victorious off quick turnaround in NYSSS Statue of Liberty

Gatsas Stables and AHHA Stables’ Greyjoy finished a nose second in a local 1 1/16-mile claiming tilt last Wednesday, and just one week later became a stakes winner for trainer John Terranova in the $150,000 Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Stakes Series, an inner turf mile for eligible state-sired sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Terranova said a stretch-out from sprint distances in the filly’s four latest efforts has been key to her solid recent form, which includes three placings in claiming-level events versus elders this summer at Belmont at the Big A and the Spa.

“She's been rounding into form this year since we stretched her out and running really well. She held her form,” the trainer said. “She's a tough little filly, always has her head in the tub, good energy out in the mornings, very sound. We thought it might be possible.

“It's Saratoga - if you've got the right horse and they're doing well; you've got to get a little aggressive up here,” he added.

The daughter of Lookin At Lee was bred in the Empire State by Harry Landry, and became the first stakes winner for her sire, who stands at Irish Hill and Dutchess Views Stallions in Stillwater, N.Y. With the winner’s share of $82,500, Greyjoy boosted her total career earnings to $169,282 to remain Lookin At Lee’s top earner to date.

Guided to victory by Tyler Gaffalione, Greyjoy was fleet-footed from post 2-of-8, but was under a hold and settled in third as the favored Celtic Dawn was rushed up by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano to make the early lead with She’s Country following just behind through the opening quarter-mile in 24.36 seconds over the firm footing.

Greyjoy remained tucked in along the rail in her stalking third position with Combat Move just outside her as the pace quickened through the half-mile in 47.72. She’s Country spun her wheels when asked for her best with Celtic Dawn still in charge through three-quarters in 1:12.52, and Gaffalione angled his charge out to make her run at the pacesetter while Morning Prayer, who followed Greyjoy down the backstretch, angled out wider in the turn to throw her hat in the ring.

A stubborn Celtic Dawn clung to her lead through upper stretch, but Greyjoy proved much-the-best as she swept past in the final eighth and drew off impressively to score by 2 3/4 lengths over Morning Prayer in a final time of 1:37.19.

"I've got to give John all the credit, he brought her over here ready to run,” Gaffalione said. “She broke alertly, put me where I wanted to be, traveled like a winner throughout, just followed the leader through there and when I got outside, she really found another gear."

Morning Prayer was a clear second 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Celtic Dawn with Lifeisbutadream running on to complete the superfecta. She’s Country, Shake Em Off and Combat Move rounded out the order of finish.

Into the Unknown, who trailed in last in the early stages, was pulled up on the backstretch by jockey Luis Saez, who hit his knee coming out of the starting gate. The horse subsequently unseated Saez, was collared by the outrider and walked back to be unsaddled. Saez walked into and out of first aid under his own power.  

Terranova said the pace scenario was beneficial to Greyjoy today.

“I thought maybe the cut back to a mile might suit her,” he said. “She did well sprinting as a 2-year-old last year always finishing well with a pace to kick into. We just really didn't get much of it [pace] the last couple of starts where she had to be up on it being the presser. She was allowed to sit back and relax a little bit, obviously save some ground and it paid off.”

Gaffalione said he was impressed with Greyjoy’s ability to run down the game Celtic Dawn.

"I was following her [Celtic Dawn] around there most of the way, and coming to the stretch, Javier let her out a little bit, she opened up two [lengths] on us and she looked like she was doing it pretty easy,” Gaffalione said. “But look, like I said, my filly laid it down for me.”

Greyjoy improved her lifetime record to 9-2-1-4 while returning $10.90 on a $2 win bet.

Ricardo Santana, Jr., aboard the Tom Morley-trained runner-up Morning Prayer, praised the filly’s admirable performance.

"We had a good trip. She put me in a good position all race,” Santana, Jr. said. “They were going pretty quick for 3-year-olds. She was second best."

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with an eight-race card, featuring the $150,000 NYSSS Cab Calloway in Race 7. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern.

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